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Israel's military at odds with government over U.S. aid to Syria

TEL AVIV -- Israeli's government and the military disagree on the consequences of Western military aid to Syria.

Prime Minister Ehud Barak has advocated U.S. military aid to Syria while senior military commanders are warning that this will turn Damascus into a threat similar to that of Egypt, which signed a peace treaty with the Jewish state in 1979.

"The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] position is that we don't want the Egyptian precedent to be repeated," a senior source said. "We don't want the Syrian position to be made more powerful with Western armaments."

Military sources acknowledged the dispute with Barak, a former chief of staff. Aides to Barak said the United States should offer Damascus military aid to prevent the Syrian regime from being wooed by other countries which would provide weapons without any strings attached.

Leading members of Congress have ruled out such a prospect but said European countries would be asked to take Washington's place. France has been named as one country that would be interested in a defense relationship with Damascus.

Israeli commanders have warned Barak, who is also defense minister, that Syria, in the wake of any peace treaty with Israel, would use U.S. and Western aid to purchase advanced Western and Russian weaponry. This, they said, could significantly alter the military balance in the region.

The purchases could include the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system from Moscow. Negotiations for the purchase have proceeded for two years, hampered by Syria's $11 billion debt to Russia and the insistence by Damascus for a long-term repayment plan.

Military commanders said the procurement of the S-300 would mark a major improvement in Syrian air defense and jeopardize Israeli deterrence. It would also mark the most important step in Syria's two-year effort in bolstering its military.

Syria has bolstered its ground forces capability in an effort that began in 1998, military sources said. This has included training for a Syrian invasion of the Golan Heights and measures to repel an Israeli armored attack.

In contrast, President Hafez Assad has allowed the air force to deteriorate and has invested efforts into a large arsenal of ballistic missiles armed with chemical warheads.

Military sources said leading commanders are concerned that the flow of U.S. weapons to Syria would lead to military cooperation between Damascus and Cairo. The sources said Israel is increasingly concerned by Egypt's strategic military program and procurements that appear directed toward a conflict with Israel.

Egypt receives more than $1.3 billion in military aid and has ordered more than $3 billion worth of advanced jet-fighters and Patriot missiles.

A senior military source said Barak has not yet decided on the issue. "Whatever the decision is, we will respond as soldiers and obey the civilian leadership," the source said.